Shortly after Toyota started the Lexus brand in 1989, Mark Templin started his long career at Toyota. He’s now a managing officer of Toyota Motor Corporation and executive vice president of Lexus International, responsible for leading the luxury brand’s global operations. We got the chance to ask him a few questions at the preliminary press kickoff for the 2015 New York International Auto Show.
Obviously, this isn’t a license to drive your Lexus RX 350 4WD into a wall for sport. But a just-released Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study showed that between 2009 and 2012, no driver died behind the wheel of the mid-size luxury crossover.
It’s not news that Lexus has been going through a rebirth, and 2015 finds the company charging headlong into battle with the Germany’s performance icons. Keen to continue its recent inroads, the company is preparing and onslaught of new things to come during the next year—it’s a good time to be a Lexus fan.
The Lexus RX has been a segment giant and a best-seller for Lexus since its introduction—but the mid-size luxury crossover has been overdue for a major refresh. Thankfully, we won’t have to wait much longer for it.
You don’t have to look further than the Lexus December sales report to see that the RX is still a force to be reckoned with in the mid-size luxury crossover market. Now that the introduction of the NX complete, Lexus designers have been busy putting the finishing touches on the next generation of the mid-size luxury crossover leader.
December was more than merry for Lexus. Its venerable RX sold more than 13,500 last month, putting the segment leader at over 100k for the year, and IS model sales were up nearly 50% over 2013.
